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AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER has begun at Fox 21, and it is one rooted in continuity, credibility and local connection. Maria Vollom, who spent nearly four years waking the Northland from 7 to 9 a.m., has been promoted to evening co-anchor alongside Dan Hanger, with Rusty Mehlberg handling weather and Neil Vierzba on sports at 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
After years of pre-dawn alarms, Vollom is now shifting to nightside — and doing so with a clear sense of responsibility to the audience she serves.
“The Northland is home to me, from my hometown of International Falls to the Iron Range and rural areas of northwestern Wisconsin," said Vollom. "Joining the evening newscasts is an honor, and I’m proud to represent our region and do not take lightly the trust our communities place in us.”
That sense of place matters here. Local television in this market has always rewarded authenticity over theatrics, preparation over polish. Vollom brings that naturally. She is local, grounded and deeply familiar with the rhythm of the region — its weather, its schools, its small towns and its expectations of those who sit behind the desk.
For Hanger, the move restores something viewers didn’t realize they missed until it returned: a true anchor pairing. After three years solo, the market’s most trusted voice now has a partner — and not just any partner.
“I’m more than excited to have Maria join the evening news team," said Hanger. "She’s local, she cares about journalism and brings another voice to the table to help make our product the best it can be. Here’s to the next chapter at FOX 21."
Hanger remains solidly No. 1 in this market, a distinction earned not through flash but through consistency and trust. His recent 2025 Duluth News Tribune Best of the Best Award for Best TV Anchor merely formalized what viewers have long known. When stories turn serious, complicated or emotional, Hanger is the voice the Northland expects to hear.
The chemistry between the two isn’t theoretical. It has been tested in real time.
News Director Matt McConico pointed to that connection: “You could instantly see the on-air chemistry between Maria and Dan co-anchoring the Superior Independence Day Parade over the last few years. I expect it to continue at 5:30 and 9.”
Inside the newsroom, the move is seen as an upgrade, not a shuffle.
“Maria did an amazing job making our morning newscast informative with her local perspective, as well as fun with her featured stories and banter," said Mehlberg. "I’m excited to see how her knowledge and journalism skills make our evening newscasts ones not to miss. We all want to make the Northland as informed as possible, and she will help us do that.”
Vierzba put it more simply: “I’m very excited to add a local product to our news team.”
What makes Fox 21 must-watch television isn’t just schedule dominance — though it remains the only local news option on television Monday through Friday at 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. It’s personality. Viewers tune in for people they trust to guide them through the news, not just deliver it.
That trust is reinforced by effort. Fox 21 has further solidified itself as the local leader in local television news because its staff consistently outworks the market. They show up earlier, stay later and cover more ground. The result is visible every night.
Vollom’s promotion also reflects the breadth she brings beyond the desk. She is a published author, having written the children’s book The Great Sheep Escape: Brad’s Big Adventure, and she has consistently balanced professionalism with approachability — a rare and valuable combination in modern local news.
Television news is a team sport, but anchors set the tone. With a local journalist earning her place beside the market’s most trusted anchor, Fox 21 didn’t just make a lineup change. It reaffirmed what viewers already believe: this is the newsroom that leads, works hardest and understands the Northland best.
